The slab is brushed with diamond pads until the surface carries a fine texture and a soft sheen. It keeps the depth of color a polish gives, without the mirror reflection.
Why choose leathered over polished?+
Fingerprints, dust and water marks are far less visible, which is why it is popular on dark granite and quartzite islands.
Is a leathered surface hard to clean?+
No. It wipes down like any stone counter, though a soft brush helps on the textured areas if something dries on.
Does leathering change the color of the stone?+
Slightly. It reads a touch softer than the same slab polished, but much closer to the polished tone than a honed finish would be.
Leathered Slabs
A leathered finish is brushed with diamond pads until the surface carries a fine texture and a low sheen. It keeps the depth of color that polishing brings, but the texture scatters light, so fingerprints, dust and water marks are much harder to see. Dark stones benefit the most.
It feels slightly rippled under the hand, which many people like on an island. For a flat matte surface instead, see honed slabs. Coarser brushed and antiqued surfaces are grouped under textured slabs.
